Karnataka Budget: Movie Ticket To Not Cost More Than Rs 200, VAT On Liquor Removed, Other Highlights

The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, presented the state’s annual budget today. Siddaramaiah also holds the Finance portfolio. This is his 12th budget as finance minister, among the highest in Indian history. It will also be his final full-fledged budget before the state goes to the polls for its election next year.

Highlights of the state budget:

The Karnataka government has lifted Value Added Tax (VAT) on wine, beer, and hard liquor. It will be removed from April 1.

The administrative fee of Rs 2 per litre on export and Re 1 per litre on spirit (excluding ethanol) is to be withdrawn.

The government announced plans to cap movie ticket prices at Rs 200 at all cinema theatres, including multiplexes. (This has been a long-pending public demand – especially in Bengaluru, where ticket prices can rise up to Rs 500.)

High-end motorbike prices will go up, with the motor vehicle tax being hiked from 12% to 18%. This will apply to all motorbikes that cost more than Rs 1 lakh.

A government-subsidised chain of food centres similar to the ones in Tamil Nadu will be initiated. This chain will be called ‘Namma Canteen’, modelled along the lines of late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa’s ‘Amma Canteen’. ‘Namma Canteen’ will sell breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch at Rs 10.

Agriculture in the state has been allocated Rs 5080 crore.

The total expenditure in the budget amounts to around Rs 1.86 lakh crore.

Budget 2017-18: Income Tax Reduced To 5% For Rs 2.5-5 Lakh Slab

Partner Story

This Mother’s Day, Let Us Make A Real Difference In Our Mother’s Life

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mothers play a crucial role in our lives. Since we were little, they held our hands, acting as our guide into the world. They took care of all our needs – from teaching us how to hold a spoon, cooking delicious meals for us, dropping us to school and sitting with us while we struggled with our math homework – mothers have been there through thick and thin.

On the special occasion of Mother’s Day, Friends Adult Diapers has a beautiful message for each of us – treat your mother the way she has treated you all her life.

It was our mothers who stayed up all night taking care of us when we fell sick; it was her who help us with our homework. This Mother’s Day, remember to take care and support your mother the way she took care of you all these years.

The minds and bodies of our ageing parents dwindle as they grow even older, and somewhere in the incoherence of understanding their thoughts, children lose patience. They spend less and less time with their parents and hire others to look after them. A study by HelpAge India gives accounts of the elderly, most of whom testify to verbal abuse, neglect and disrespect by their children. Old people rely on their children for both emotional and financial support but, often times are not given the needed care.

There is little difference in how we were as toddlers and how parents are as senior citizens. They couldn’t understand the gibber we uttered then, yet taught us different languages. We were financially dependent on them till at least 18 years of age yet, they never said no to giving us pocket money. Why cannot we echo the same patience our parents showed for so many years?

Our parents have an unconditional love for us. They made sure all our needs are cared for and we never feel alone. When we grow up and our parents enter old age, they require the same care and affection. They would be delighted if we spent time with them after classes or work, make tea or cook for them and also help them with household chores when they have too many things at hand.

It is our responsibility to stand with our parents when they are weak; it is our responsibility to cook for them when they are too tired, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they fall sick.

Mother’s Day is a celebration in honour of motherhood, a tribute to maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Let us make a real difference by showing how much we truly care for our mothers.

Friends Adult Diapers has taken a wonderful initiative in this regard. The most precious gift for a mother is her child. So why not take this as an opportunity to shower her with the same love? After all, she deserves it for being with you through every obstacle and every hardship that you faced.